The Securities and Exchange Commission announced it will begin accepting comments from the public as the agency sets out to make rules required under the recently-signed Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act.

Under a process first utilized with the Dodd Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the public will be able to comment before the agency even proposes its regulatory reform rules and amendments.

The SEC is generally required by law to establish a public comment period at the time it proposes rules or rule amendments. However, similar to the Commission’s action with the Dodd-Frank Act, the public will have an opportunity to voice its views before rules or amendments are proposed under the JOBS Act. The public also will be able to see what others are saying to the agency about these issues.

In addition, to ensure full transparency, the SEC will post information on its website about any JOBS Act meetings with interested parties. Staff will request that meeting participants provide an agenda of intended topics in advance, which will become part of the public record. Meeting participants will be encouraged to submit written comments to the public file so that all interested parties have the opportunity to review and consider the views expressed.